Imphal: Haobam Paban Kumar’s Manipuri feature film- Joseph’s Son will be screened at Palais G on tomorrow, the 17th May at 12.00 noon at Marche du Film 2026 of Cannes 2026. The National Film Development Corporation presents a premier selection of Indian regional cinema at Marche du Film 2026 in the ongoing 79th Cannes Film Festival which is taking place from 12 to 23 May 2026 in France.
The Marché du Film is the business wing of the Cannes Film Festival and the world’s largest international film market. Held annually in May at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, it gathers over 15,000 industry professionals to network, finance, and negotiate the distribution and production rights for thousands of films.
The market brings together sales agents, buyers, producers, distributors, and streaming platforms to broker multi-million dollar deals that shape global cinema. Hundreds of film institutions and national pavilions representing nearly 90 countries set up booths to showcase their domestic film industries and promote co-productions. Over 1,200 market screenings take place across dozens of dedicated screening rooms, allowing buyers to watch completed features, documentaries, and projects still in development.
The curated slate of National Film Development Corporation of India productions and co-productions to be showcased through market screenings at the Palais includes Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son, Nending Loder’s Galo film- Karken and Kenny Basumatary’s Bodo film- My Three Sisters. These films will be presented for worldwide rights opportunities, including theatrical release, VOD (Video on Demand)/OTT licensing, as well as satellite and airborne rights. Through these films, the NFDC aims to find global partners for the theatrical release and VOD/OTT distribution of stories from Northeast India.
The NFDC describes the curated films as a celebration of the resilience, identity, and cinematic artistry of Northeast India. Following its acclaimed run at the Shanghai International Film Festival, the haunting drama Joseph’s Son explores a father’s search within a landscape marked by uncertainty. Karken is presented as a profound exploration of redemption and human resilience set against the breathtaking backdrop of Arunachal Pradesh, while My Three Sisters is described as a visually compelling study of emotional tension and the intricate bonds within a family. Both Karken and My Three Sisters are scheduled for screening on May 18 and 19.
Joseph’s Son had already participated in many major international film festivals like Golden Globet Competition of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival 2023; Indian Competition of the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival 2023; Indian Cinema Now of the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala 2023; Nominated for 1st Alternative Awards Kazakhstan 2023; Indian Cinema Section of the 22nd Pune International Film Festival 2024; International Film Festival of Bhubaneshwar 2024, Chitrabharati Competition of the 15th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2024 and Beyond Bollywood section of the 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024. The film received the Special Jury Award in the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival 2023 and the Best Director Award in the 1st North East India Film Festival 2024.
